According to Moral Development theory of Piaget, adolescent period is :

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The correct option is 4:
The **Stage of Autonomous Morality** is the final stage in Jean Piaget's theory of moral development, typically beginning around 10 or 11 years of age and extending through adolescence and beyond. In this stage, adolescents move beyond strictly adhering to rules imposed by authority figures (heteronomous morality). They begin to understand that rules are flexible, socially constructed agreements that can be changed, and that intention behind an action is more important than the consequence. They develop a moral relativism based on cooperation, mutual respect, and internal principles of fairness and equity. This shift to autonomous moral reasoning is characteristic of the cognitive abilities attained during adolescence, where formal operational thought allows for abstract, logical reasoning about complex moral dilemmas.

The incorrect option is 1:
The **Stage of Moral Realism** is an earlier phase, generally corresponding to children in the preoperational and early concrete operational stages (around 5 to 10 years old). In this stage, children believe that rules are absolute, sacred, and unchangeable, established by powerful adults.

The incorrect option is 2:
The **Stage of Morality Constraint** is synonymous with the Stage of Moral Realism. Piaget used the term "morality of constraint" to describe the moral reasoning of younger children, where moral judgments are based on unilateral respect for authority and focus on the severity of the outcome rather than the individual’s intent. Therefore, it precedes the adolescent period.

The incorrect option is 3:
The **Stage of Heteronomous Morality** is another term used by Piaget to describe the initial moral stage (or Stage of Moral Realism). This stage is characterized by moral beliefs derived from external sources, where the child's perspective on right and wrong is constrained by the rules and punishments dictated by others, which is not representative of the independent moral thinking developed during adolescence.